PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — In this weeks Military Minute, we are talking about the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Legare.

According to Coast Guard Atlantic Public Affairs, the cutter returned to Portsmouth last Wednesday after seizing more than 1800 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated wholesale value of $59.5 million dollars.

During their 48-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean the crew detained ten suspected drug smugglers on three different vessels. In two of the incidents aircrews of a Coast Guard Helicopter based in Jacksonville, Florida had to open fire and disable the engines after the suspected smugglers ignored orders from the Legare to stop.

The Coast Guard also tells us the Legare supported a mission to stop a fourth smuggling vessel lead by the Coast Guard cutter Forward, also homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia.

The Legare’s crew is also credited with saving the lives 16 Cuban migrants in the Florida Straits. The Hampton Roads Show would like to congratulate the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Legare for their action packed and successful patrol.